The companies were under protection from creditors since filing under Chapter 11 of the federal Bankruptcy Act, May 14, 1984.

The change in bankruptcy filing, made Monday, means the remaining assets of both companies will be sold to satisfy debts.

"There will no longer be any attempt by the corporation to reorganize," said the companies' attorney, J. Jackson Eaton of Allentown. "Neither Purity nor A&B is conducting any business at this time."

Last month, most of the assets of Purity - which employs about 200 persons at its plant in Salisbury, Md., and about 15 workers in Allentown - were sold for more than $1 million at federal bankruptcy auction to an investor group headed by former A&B President Richard A. Strouce.

"There had been an attempt (by A&B) for some time to reorganize Purity, but it became apparent that it was not a viable choice," said Eaton.

Strouce's new business is operating as Purity Group, Inc.

Eaton said the Chapter 7 liquidation results from A&B's inability to reorganize its hog slaughtering operation, which at one time employed about 300 in Allentown.

"There had been continuing attempts since the (Chapter 11 filing) to work out an arrangement to restart the slaughtering operation in Allentown and reestablish the jobs. The attempts to do that are probably continuing but it was something that A&B was no longer in a position to do," said Eaton.

However, there is still a chance that new investors could reopen the A&B plant, Eaton said.

"The creditors that hold the mortgage on the building and the other creditors with a secured interest in the equipment needed for restart are cooperating and keeping the plant together as a unit for a period of time to continue to put together a financial package that would enable the slaughtering operation to begin," Eaton said.

Whether or not the slaughtering operation will be renewed may not be known for months, Eaton said.